Back in September, Google told us to expect an update to Android Wear that would bring support for offline music playback and GPS sensors. And now it looks like the first Android Wear device to get the new software is LG’s G Watch.

Some owners of this particular smartwatch have started receiving update notifications. After applying the new bits, they’re on software version 4.4W.2 and build KNX01Q. And sure enough, a new ‘Play Music’ option shows up in the watch’s menu. Furthermore, the G Watch is now capable of pairing itself with Bluetooth audio accessories. Read more »

Google has today announced it’s started supporting a new type of two-factor authentication for its websites, as long as you use its Chrome desktop browser. The existing 2-step verification system is based on you entering your password followed by a six-digit code that you either receive via SMS or get from a special mobile app.

The new system replaces the code-entering with inserting a physical USB device into your computer, then tapping its sole button when prompted to do so. Read more »

Google has announced a big update for its Play Music service. First off, the Android and iOS apps have received a new, Material Design-infused coat of paint. Second, the service now brings you contextual music stations.

These have apparently been “hand crafted” by a team of music experts, including DJs, musicians, music critics, and ethnomusicologists, to give you exactly the songs you need for a particular moment. Read more »

Microsoft has published a new update for Skype in the Windows Phone app store. The new version is 2.24, and it debuts an interesting feature: drawing.

It’s just as it sounds, basically. You can tap the “+” icon in any chat and then select “drawing” to, well, draw – a picture, or whatever else your talent level allows you to. There’s also the possibility of adding a “personal touch” to a photo, or to annotate a Bing map. Read more »

Dropbox has updated its mobile app for iOS today, and with the new version comes support for Touch ID. Specifically, you can use the fingerprint sensor embedded into Apple’s wares to get access to your Dropbox.

This means no more entering passwords to view the files you have stored in this particular cloud service. Read more »

At its ongoing event, Apple has officially announced that Mac OS X Yosemite will be available for download today. What’s more, it’s going to be a free upgrade. And an iWork update for OS X will also be going out today.

The latest version of Apple’s OS for desktops and laptops was unveiled in June during the company’s traditional annual developer conference. Read more »

Apple’s NFC-based new mobile payment initiative will start rolling out on Monday, October 20. The information was made official at the company’s event today, during which it’s expected to also announce the new iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3. Interestingly, that’s the exact date that has been rumored at the beginning of the month.

Apple Pay was unveiled during the big iPhone 6 announcement in September. Since then, Apple has managed to bring in 500 more banks to support its service. Read more »

The Nexus 9 tablet that was officially unveiled yesterday by Google and HTC is already to be found out and about in Vietnam. And thankfully some enterprising souls decided to make it the star of several live, hands-on images, as well as a video that shows it to the world for the first time.

Sure, press renders are just fine, but to get a real impression about what any given device actually looks in real life such live images are a lot more helpful. Read more »

Now that Google has finally revealed that Lollipop is the name of its Android L release, you probably saw this coming. The new OS version has received its very own statue outside of Google’s HQ in California.

This is customary for all new Android iterations, and there are already a lot of sweet statues hanging out on Google’s lawn. Read more »

The first device to run Android TV is the previously leaked Asus Nexus Player, announced today alongside the Nexus 6 phablet and the Nexus 9 tablet. The Nexus Player is a set-top-box / console that you connect to your existing TV, and it even comes with an optional gamepad accessory.

Using that you’ll be able to play Android games on your TV. The Nexus Player ships with a voice search capable remote in the box. Read more »

Breathometer has unveiled the Breeze today. This is a new breathalyzer that the company claims is the industry’s first such device to be “truly wearable”. It’s small, has a built-in mouthpiece, and it comes with a wearable clip, keychain, and a mouthpiece cover.

It apparently delivers ultra fast and ultra accurate results, and it uses Bluetooth LE to talk to your iPhone or Android smartphone – on which you install the Breathometer app. Read more »

A team of Chinese designers has taken to Kickstarter to fund a nifty little idea called Air Umbrella. It’s an umbrella that’s powered by a “force field” of air. It uses this to replace the fabric in a normal umbrella, with the air flow deflecting the rain drops from you.

The inventors have already received more pledges than they asked for – right now around $17,000 have been pledged by people eager to replace their umbrellas with something more high-tech, and the goal was just $10,000. There are 9 days to go in the Kickstarter campaign, but since the goal has been surpassed this thing should become reality. Read more »

The Samsung Gear VR virtual reality headset could finally be released on December 1, at least in South Korea. That’s what a leaked document, purported to have originated at Samsung’s customer service department, claims.

Furthermore, we even get a price to speak of. In Samsung’s home country, the Gear VR will apparently go for KRW 200,000 (which is approximately $187 or €148 at the current exchange rates). Read more »

Adobe has launched a new video editing app for iOS today. It’s called Premiere Clip and it’s basically a mobile-friendly interpretation of Premiere Pro, the company’s desktop video editor.

Adobe Premiere Clip is created with the mainstream user in mind, and not just video professionals. It’s a bit similar to iMovie, allowing you to trim and arrange bits, filter your video, as well as add transitions and effects – though these are rather basic compared to what you can do on a computer. Read more »

This sure took a while, but Facebook is now officially the owner of WhatsApp. The social network agreed to buy the mobile messaging service on February 20, shocking the tech world by offering $19 billion for that privilege.

All the regulatory hurdles have now been cleared, so WhatsApp is finally part of Facebook. Read more »